Cue for billiards, bagatelle, and the like.



H. A, ORABB. GUE FOR BILLIARDS, BAGATELLE, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2'?, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

UNITED sTAtriisrnrENT oFFIoE.

HUGH ALEXANDER CRABB, OF STREATHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLES HILTON HUTCHINSON AN D ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT HENRY FRANKS PERL, BOTH 0F THEOBALDS ROAD, COUNTY 0F LONDON, ENGLAND.s

CUE FOR BILLIARDS, BAGATELLE, AND THE LIKE.:

specification of Leiters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Application led June 27, 1911. Serial No. 635,592.

l mechanical spring cues for billiards, bagatelle and the like and has for its object to provide a cue wherein the momentum or recoil of a spring is utilized in improved manner for project-ing or striking the balls. It is especially suitable for obtaining the desired movements on a table of small dimensions such as toy tables.v

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a mechanical cue comprising a tubular casing having a. fixed one tip at one end and partially inclosing a sliding cue rod having a tip atits outer end, the said 'rod having a collar about its middle, and a spring on each side thereof. In such ease however. the cue rod is slid back against the pressure of t-he main spring and when released by a catch, is directly propelled thereby when it is desired to use the said sliding eue rod and tip, the other and weaker spring acting as a butter. The fixed cuetip can also be made use of in a similar manner by relying on the recoilot' the case. l

According to the present invention we provide means for tensioning the main spring and a stop member for preventing the inward movement of the cue tip rod which is projected on the release ot` the said spring, by the gathered momentum ot the cue; Fig. 9. is a broken elevational view -ot' the same, and Fig. 3 shows a broken longitudinal section of a modified form.

`Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 and according to the simplest way ot earrying out this invention, a cue tip holder a is connect-ed to one end of a. closely coiled helical spring b. An actuator, in the form of an operating draw tubes, is attached at one of its ends to the spring Z). A guide rod abutment a is attached to the butt end of the cue and disposed inside of the helical spring and draw tube c, to term a. stop for the holder a sothat' upon manual retraction of said operating tube c, Aby the player, the rode will forni a stop or. abutment limit-ing retraction of the tip holder a, inwardly, and thereby vcausing expansion of the spring b. YVhen the actuated tube c is released, the spring Z). will recoil and cause the cue tip holder a to be yieldingly projected so as to strike a ball close to or against which the cue is held.k mentnm of the spring against itself, when closing up, is sntlicient to cause the tip The mothe players hand. The' cue tip holder a is preferably slidably mounted in the outer,

or eue end ot' 'the tubular barrel or casing (l and an external .finger piece e is provided and `connected with the drawtube c so as to slidably move in a slot d', in the outer casing. Alnit'er spring g is provided to insure the proper return of the cue tip: holder a and lessen and damp the blow. The sleeved portion a. may be shrunk over or otherwise suitably connected with o ne end ot' the spring b; and likewise the end e2, ot the tube (1,* may be shrunk over o1' otherwiseconnected with the other end of the spring I).

In Fig. 3 a 'ap or sleeve is shown connected to the end ot the spring Z which sleeve. is slid'ably movable over the end ot the casing al and a suitable light returning spring 1/ is also provided to insure the return ot' the parts, and also in some cases to cheek the torce ot the main spring Z1. As also shown in Fig. 3 ive-may provid@ an internal extension a ot the rue tip'holder n which enters the end of the coiled spring and copcrates with the end otl the draw rod c which is extended in length so as to abut thereon` and transmit the momentum of the spring to the movable cue tip holder a. 'lhus in thisl latter case the blow is apositive one. metal to metal. while in the former 'ase Figs. 1 and 2( it is due only` prevents the spring jamminpr or the coils over-riding as might be the case where the spring continually returned on itself alone. The casing (Z is provided with a shoulder d2 to prevent retraction of the tip holder a, inwardly into the casing, beyond. a predetermined point.

I may in some cases arrange the cue tip holder externally of the outer casings, and I may also so arrange the spring that it is partly inclosed and partly open in which latter case an operating knob vconnected with the outer endpof the spring would be arranged to slide on a central rod connected With the cue tip holder, the movement being'transmitted to the central rod by a collar thereon against which the inner or free end of the spring would abut when released. The exposed end ot' the rod and the spring and knob would be arranged between the end guides of a suitable handle grip or holding device.

In another modification I may arrange for the spring when pulled back on a central cue tip rod, to abut against another fixed collaron the rod and drive it forward together With the rod, cue tip and Spring; the whole device in such case slidingl in a pair of spaced. guide members.

The cue rod a is shown fitted with a renewable leather, gut, or other tip a2 iitted into a hole in the rod and in Figs. l and 2 a terminal or cap 71. is fitted on the end of the casing CZ by means of a pin z/ engaging a slot d2. In this case the cap h carries the guide rod c.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made for instance a sleeve l may be tted to the draw tube c, Figs. 1 and 2 instead ot" the finger piece e, said sleeve being slidable over the outer casing.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.:k

l. A game cue comprising in combination7 a barrel, a cuev tip holder slidably mounted in the barrel, an abutment carried by the barrel and adapted to engage the tip l holder to limit retractive movement inwardly from the tip holder end ofthe barrehan actuator adapted to be manually retracted with respect'to the tip holder end ot' the barrel. and a contractile spring connected With said actuator and tip holder and serving upon release of said actuator to recoil and yieldingly to project the tip holder from the barrel, substantially as described.

2. A game cue comprising in combination, a barrel7 a cue tip holder slidably mounted in the barrel, an abutment carried by the barrel and adapted to engage the ti holder to limit retractive movement inwar ly from the tip holder end of the barre-l, an actua tor adapted to be manually retracted With respect to the tip end of the barrel, a contractile spring connected with said actuator and tip holder and serving upon release of said actuator to recoil and yieldingly to project the tip holder from the barrel, and a butter spring carried by the barrel for cushioning the blow of saidtip holder, substantially as described.

3. A game cue comprising in combination, a barrel, a cue tip holder slidably mounted in the barrel, means adapted to engage the tip holder to limit retractive movement inwardly from the tip end of the barrel, an' actuator adapted to be manually retracted with respect to the tip end of the barrel, a contractile spring connected with said actuator and tip holder and serving upon release of said actuator to recoil and cause the tip holder to be projected from the tip end of the barrel, and a bumper spring carried by the barrel for cushioning the flow ot' said tip holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses this 12th day of J une 1911.

HUGH ALEXANDER CRABB.

Witnesses J. S. Vilrriiens, Y. BEAR-EY. 

